OBU posts highest spring enrollment in 30 years

By FELLEY LAWSON | OBU News Bureau

ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas — Ouachita Baptist University has posted its highest spring headcount in more than 30 years with a total Spring 2025 enrollment of 1,791.

“Ouachita’s academic excellence, distinctly Christian ethos and highly relational community have helped us achieve significant growth and outstanding graduate outcomes,” said Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita’s president. “The Ouachita experience is special, and we work hard to keep it within reach for prospective students. Parents often tell us that when they count the total cost, their out-of-pocket expenses are the same at Ouachita as they would be at a state university. Sometimes less.”

Undergraduate residential enrollment for the semester is the university’s highest in more than two decades at 1,510. Ouachita has recently launched or expanded undergraduate degree programs in high demand fields including cybersecurity, engineering and criminal justice, and new degree emphases such as a wildlife & conservation emphasis within the Department of Biology.

At 112, spring enrollment in Ouachita’s six graduate programs has grown 62% since Spring 2024. These programs include Arkansas’ first Master of Arts and Master of Science in applied behavior analysis, as well as a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Arts in counseling with a specialization in clinical mental health.

Total enrollment includes undergraduate residential students, undergraduate online students, graduate students and high school students taking Ouachita courses for concurrent credit.